Highway tips- night

[sdbrit68]

This one could be interesting

Riding at night can be a good way to escape the heat and give you a different perspective on riding. There are however many differences between night and day riding. I never ride as fast at night as I do during the day. I believe it is Texas that posts separate speed limits for day and night travel. One thing that becomes obvious is the fact your visibility is greatly reduced. I have been blessed with excellent night vision but if you are not I would strongly discourage night riding.
The first and foremost thing I would like to bring up about night riding is a obstacle. Things such as road gators (those black tire treads laying on the highway) are way less visible at night than they are in the day. Deer seem to be more active at night fall and though they usually can be seen on the sides of the road they can also meander out to the road surface.
I prefer to be following someone with good lights. Using their headlights to increase my field of vision. (I am not talking tail gating them but allow them to be a good ways in front of you). Never go faster than you can stop in your field of view. It does no good to be able to identify what you hit as long as you hit it. Give yourself enough time to actually avoid the obstacle.
Watch the vehicles in front of you intensely; if you see them veer off to the left you can expect an obstacle ahead of the right. Keep in mind that the four wheeled vehicles my be straddling an obstacle and set your path in their tire tracks.
Oncoming traffic can also give you a good view of the road surface you are traveling. Notice the two reflective lines on your road surface coming from their headlights. If those lines are solid and without an interruption you can almost certainly conclude that your highway surface is clear from obstruction. If there is a large gap in their lights reflection you can almost certainly conclude there is a obstacle laying on the highway before you and should adjust your speed accordingly.
Road signs and gas stations are harder to find at night so keep an eye out for them. Several stations will remain open but only accept credit cards at night. Keep this in mind as you travel.
Keep in mind at all times your physical stamina and be more willing to take breaks to keep yourself awake and alert

[Pippi250]

I ride home from work at 3:30 am and absolutely love it! Funny that you mention the tire treads. I always see them during the day, but don't think about them at night. I will keep a closer eye out now.

[sdbrit68]

Its almost 1am and I am gettting ready to head out now.........I am not sure how much warning we could get on tire treads at night, maybe if they made truck tires day glo orange or somethig

[Pippi250]

Hey SDBrit, hope ya'll have a great ride this weekend. James (Metallyguitared) is really looking forward to it. He'll be riding his new Kawai 600 greenie. I'm not really ready to ride with such a large group...yet. I just started lane splitting, big step for me. Oh, and enjoy your ride tonight, if your not already out there. Stay warm and ride safe. Pip

[anrfknm]

try night riding in the rain. you now have all the reflections to contend with as well as reduced visibility from the night. the water on your visor will refect light and make it much harder to see the road or obsticles. if the rain is heavy you can be blinded by passing cars splashing water all over you. what fun.

[PainlessWolf]

Great Post, SD. I ride to work at 4:30 in the morning and have experienced all those things you mentioned. The most fun I ever had cyclin' at night was riding up out of the Utah red rock deserts into Grand Junction late one afternoon and after gassing the Wing' and having a meal, deciding to ride on home to Boulder over I-70. Now this was the old GoldWing, a stock 77' with throwover bags, no couch on wheels, just a big, honking, brawny Motorcycle. Traffic diminished as the day wore away and by Midnight, I was up on the pass over Aspen and the Moon and stars and the mountains and empty highway made for a real spiritual experience. I'm getting goosebumps just remembering it as I type this reply. I was really zonked by the time I made it home at 4:00am but I wouldn't change a thing. Night Riding done right can be some of the best riding a cyclist' will ever do.
Painless Black Wolf
...Here for the Dawn...

2005 Drifter 800

[Dudester]

All great advice and words to live by. Thanks for the reminders.

[kc6wfs]

Night riding is 50% of my riding.

I also stay out of the carpool and or fast lane of the freeway.
To many times I have seen blacked out cars in those lanes.

If I find a drunk on the road.. I'll stay to the rear of them.
Best to have a drunk in front of ya then behind.

[jaseman]

Best way to sum up night riding:

"Never ride faster than your headlight"

[sdbrit68]

Originally Posted by Pippi250

Hey SDBrit, hope ya'll have a great ride this weekend. James (Metallyguitared) is really looking forward to it. He'll be riding his new Kawai 600 greenie. I'm not really ready to ride with such a large group...yet. I just started lane splitting, big step for me. Oh, and enjoy your ride tonight, if your not already out there. Stay warm and ride safe. Pip

when ya ready, join us.

we actually do no lane splitting with the group, Rich and I talk a lot about safety issues every ride. Recently he brought up it would be nice to have a first responder as our group is getting bigger.

Had to remind him, I'm an ex army medic and paramedic

But we try to schedule so people dont go home in the dark, or too much riding to the ride in the dark

[Pippi250]

Originally Posted by sdbrit68

Had to remind him, I'm an ex army medic and paramedic

Good to know! Gives people peace of mind.

[Pippi250]

Originally Posted by anrfknm

try night riding in the rain.

Whoa! I will definitely try not to get caught in that predicament! I would probably call my husband at 3 am to come and pick me up in the car. My bike would be safe and dry, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[N3FOLN3FOL]

Thanks for the post. Even though I've heard of this before, I tend to ride fast at night lately. On my way home tonight, I'll be a little more conservative in riding at night. Regards.

[Ninja_Wendy]

Originally Posted by Pippi250

Whoa! I will definitely try not to get caught in that predicament! I would probably call my husband at 3 am to come and pick me up in the car. My bike would be safe and dry, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I hear ya Pippi. Last time I was picking up my bike from the shop and it was really cloudy and I called my hubby and warned him that he needed to have his raingear ready so he could take my bike home for me. He's good, he would do that for me.